Placard apparatus.



J. WAGNER.

PLACARD APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27, 1911.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@5 WW /m J. WAGNER.

PLAUARD APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 11.27, 1911.

Patented Jan.- 28,1913.

3 BHEETSSHEET Z.

J. WAGNER.

PLAGARD APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 111 11.27, 1911.

1,051,788. Patented Jan.28,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

JOSEPH WAGNER, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PLACARD ArrAnA'rus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 28, 1913.

Application filed A ril 27, 1911. Serial no. 623,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, JOSEPH WAGNER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Placard Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to placard apparatus, and has for an object toprovide apparatus of this character which will include a series of unitimages and means for moving the units before a picture exhibiting ordisplay opening so that the units of the respective series may bearranged collectively to produce a complete picture.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for moving thepicture surfaces with such rapidity that the picture configuration willbe changed to present a moving picture illusion.

In the drawings, forming a portion of this specification and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the severalvieWs:Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection therethrough taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front view showingpartsof the casing in section. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the motorcircuits showing the circuit closers therein.

The apparatus, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises asuitable casing 1, the picture display portion or front of the casinghaving removably fitted thereto a picture exhibiting or display frame2,-in which the opening 3 is formed. Superimposed driven shafts 4 arejournaled in any suitable well known manner in'the casing 1 and each hasmounted thereon and suitably secured thereto a roller 5 which isprovided adjacent to its ends with peripheral grooves or pulley portions6. Each roller is also provided adjacent to its ends with sprocketteeth. 7. In advance of each roller and suitably journaled in the wallsof the casing 1 are companion idle rollers 8, being located immediatelybehind the View or exhibiting opening 3 in the frame 2. An apron orcontinuous belt 9 extends over each roller 5 and the companion idlerollers 8. These belts or aprons are constructed of transparent materialand formed therein adjacent to their longitudinal edges are the sprocketopenings 10 for the reception of the sprocket teeth 7 on the feedrollers 5.

Each belt or apron is provided with a plural ty of picture surfaces 11each forming a unit of picture to be displayed. The companion idlerollers 8 operate to positively define the picture plane, it beingunderstood that the display portion of the apron as it is brought intoregistration with the exhibiting opening 3 will be dis osed vertically,as at 12, in Pig. 2 of the rawings. In this way the cooperating surfaces11 which represent the separate units of the picture to be displayed maybe simultaneously moved relatively to their full picture displaypositions.

As stated, the aprons are constructed preferably of transparent materialand in the space in rear of each apron is an electric bulb 13 or othersuitable well known means of illumination to be relied upon forilluminatin the pictures when the apparatus is exhibited in the dark. Amotor 14 is mounted in the casing 1, preferably in the bottom thereofand is provided with a driving shaft 15 which has secured thereto thedriving pulleys 16. Driving belts 17 extend over th pulleys 16 and overthe ulleys 18 and 19 and around the driving ro llers 5, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the belts bein arranged in atortuous manner so that al of the driving rollers 5 will be driven inthe same direction.

\Vith a view of imparting to the belts or aprons 9 of the apparatus asubstantially intermit tent movement, Lprovide the circuit closingdevices 20, two of such devices being employed and each embodying thefixed contact 21 and the movable contact 22. The movable contacts areprovided on their under surfaces with abutments 23 each having a surface24 which is arranged substantially tangential to the movable contactactuating wheel 25. The wheels 25 are mounted on the driving shaft 15and each has arranged thereon the actuating lugs 26. These lugs areradially disposed and are arranged at suitable spaced intervals on theperipheral surface of the wheels 25 and are designed to alternatelyengage the abutinents 23 so as to properly open and close the electriccircuit. The circuit closing devices are properly timed or constructedso that movement of each belt or picture apron will practically cease onmovement of the belt to full picture display position.

During the operation of the device the motor circuit is brokenimmediately on the 2 memes engagement of the cam'23 by the? lug 26 andheld broken as long as such engagement lasts. The momentum of the motoris suflicient to carry the lug 26 out of engagement with thecam 23permitting the movable contact to fall into engagement with thestationary contact whereupon the circuit is closed. I 1

The motor 14 is arranged in the separate electric circuits 27 and 28,each circuit being provided with a contact 29 and a switch 30. Thesecircuits are respectively arranged in the circuit closing devices andthe circuit 27 is provided with a resistance coil 31. From thisconstruction I provide means, whereby the belts can be driven at a veryslow rate of speed'or a fast rate of speed according to the taste of theoperator.

I claim:

1. A changeable exhibitor comprising a casing provided with a displayopening, idle and riving rollers mounted'in said casing, said drivingrollers being provided with sprocket teeth and also'peripheral groovesor pulley portions at their ends, a plurality of picture bands providedwith sprocket openings adapted to move behind the said.

display opening, a motor arranged in separate weak and strong electriccircuits mounted 1n the casing and having a driving pulley at each endof its shaft, pulleys ar-' ranged in rear and advance of the drivingrollers, and endless driving belts extending over said rear pulleys,thence alternately over the said advanced pulleys and driving rollersand thence over the driving pulleys.

2. A. changeable exhibitor comprising, in combination, a casing, aplurality of sepa rate movable transparent picture aprons, or

bands mounted in the casing, means for illuminating the pictures,driving belts, an electric motor arranged in separate strong and weakcircuits and mounted in the said casing, a manually operable switch foreach of the circuits so that either circuit may be closed to operate themotor, two separate circuit closures adapted to alternately break andclose the motor circuit and cam wheels mounted on-the motor shaft foroperating the circuit closures.

. said display opening ofthe casing and over the said idle and drivingrollers, a motor arranged in separate weak and strong electric circuitsand mounted in the casing and having a driving pulley at each end of itsshaft,

endless driving belts extending over said pulleys and driving saidpicture bands, two pivoted circuit closers having cam surfaces, and awheel also mounted at each end of the shaft and having radially disposedspace'dlugs adapted to engage said cam sur-" faces for actuating thecircuit closing devices, each of which is arranged one in each electriccircuit.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

v JOSEPH WAGNER.

Witnesses JAMES O. Konnn, v BENNETT S. Jones.

